EVERY RAID HAS RISKS, COPS SAY

But Ewatski Puzzled By Killer's Thinking

Winnipeg police Chief Jack Ewatski says society needs to have a better
understanding of the dangers associated with marijuana grow operations. "I
suppose one of the greatest dangers is the fact that it is a valuable
commodity that is going to be guarded and protected by these individuals
who are doing this," he said yesterday.

"And obviously, people will use force to guard those operations and guard
their profits."

Sgt. Rick Guyader, a supervisor with the Winnipeg police drug unit, said
his officers do a threat assessment before each raid they conduct. That
threat assessment includes delving into the background of the individuals
they are targeting.

Hard Time Understanding

"We make it as safe as we possibly can for our members when they're
executing a search warrant. And as a supervisor I feel as long as we've got
all the bases covered, that's the best that we can do," Guyader said.

Ewatski said grow ops shouldn't be the focus of Thursday's tragedy.

"What concerns me is that an individual apparently would use such a level
of force against peace officers that is unprecedented," he said.

"I'm going to have a hard time ... understanding what would be going
through that person's mind that they feel the need to commit such a
horrific act."